Hickey for canopy switches



J. A. WASSELLE 2,584,767

HICKEY FOR CANOPY SWITCHES Feb. 5, 1952 Filed Feb. 8, 1949 /26 5T INVENTOR. 30 JOSEPH A. WASSELLE I BY Em 4 l Afforney Patented Feb. 5, 1952 UNITED 'STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE 2,584,767 HICKEY FOR CANOPY SWITCHES Joseph A. Wasselle, Ciueens Village, N. Y. Y I Application February 8, 1949, ,Serial No. 75,212, I

This invention relates to a switches It is an object of the present invention to provide in a lamp assembly for ceilings a hickey adapted to support a canopy switch as well as the canopy from the ceiling and whereby when the switch is pulled through the chain thereof, the strain is from the ceiling and not from the canopy fixture, the hickey being connected directly to the ceiling and. the switch being mountable upon the hickey.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hickey which is formed of a single piece shaped to provide three axially aligned openings vertically spaced from one another wherein the chain of the switch, when the switch is mounted on the hickey between two of the openings, can be extended through the openings and downwardly through the bottom hole and through the bottom of the canopy which is supported by the hickey on the ceiling.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a hickey mounting for a canopy switch and for a lamp assembly which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, simplifies the assembly of canopy upon the ceiling, reduces the number of parts required for such assemblies, rugged and sturdy, convenient to use and efficient in operation.

The invention may also be used as a combination canopy switch and spacer hickey when not fastened to a ceiling stud, or as a spacer alone.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a canopy assembly utilizing the hickey and switch of the present invention for effecting the support of the canopy assembly from the ceiling.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hickey.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the hickey.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a slightly different type of assembly of the canopy upon the ceiling structure.

Referring now to the figures, l represents a hickey which is formed of stamped metal bent into S shape and providing for vertically aligned openings II, l2 and I3. The opening I2 is provided in a transverse supporting portion I4 for a switch I5. This switch I5 has a threaded tube I6 which passes downwardly through the opening I2 and which, by the use of a nut I'I, serves to secure the switch to the transverse supporting portion M. A pull chain l8 extends downwardly hickey for canopy 1 Claim. I (01. $843425 through the 1threadedf tube 1.6" of ".thefswitch and through the nut I I; This chainalsqpas'ses down-'5 wardly through the f'opening' jglj3- and flthi'oughfla bell nut 19 serving to secure a casin'g'2l' tothe hickey. This casing 2| houses the hickey, the switch and such other parts which are necessary for effecting the operation of a circular fluorescent lamp 22 mounted on a base 23 which is connected to a threaded shaft 24 by the upper end of the hickey I0 and by the threading of the hickey through its opening II which is threaded upon the threaded shaft 24. This shaft 24 is in turn connected to a stud '25 depending from a ceiling outlet by a stud clamp nut 26 having a small diameter threaded opening at its bottom end for receiving the threaded shaft 24. The hickey opening I I is threaded, as viewed more clearly in Fig. 2. Likewise, the opening I3 is threaded, and is also viewed more clearly in Fig. 2, to receive the bell nut I9. The transverse portion which supports the switch I5 is of greater width than connecting portions 21 and 28 which respectively extend upwardly and below the transverse portion I 4 and which respectively support wide portions 29 and 30 having respectively the openings II and I3.

In Fig. 4, the hickey is connected directly to a stud 32 depending from an outlet box 33 in the ceiling. After placing the base support 23 over the stud 32, the hickey can be threaded onto l the stud and will support the base 23. It should be apparent that the hickey [0, according to both forms of the invention, serves to support the main part 23 and as well the casing 2|. The casing 2| is connected to the lower end of the hickey and by a simple removal of the bell nut I9, it can be readily displaced and removed. The casing 2| forms a closure for the wires 34 and such other equipment which may be required for the operation of the fluorescent lamps 22.

It should be apparent that with the hickey connected to the ceiling stud that the pull chain iii of the switch will be from the ceiling and not from the canopy assembly and thus abuse of the fixture due to the constant use of the pull switch is eliminated.

It should be further apparent that the hickey may or may not be fastened to a ceiling stud and that it can be used as a spacer alone without the inclusion of a switch supported upon it.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A hickey for supporting an electric switch including a pull chain and a centrally apertured threaded stud through which said pull chain extends and a centrally apertured casing from an externally threaded ceiling fixture, said hickey comprising an integral unitary S-shaped member including substantially circular top, bottom and intermediate horizontal portions of substantially equal outside diameter and elongated vertical portions of equal length extending from diametrically opposed peripheral points of said intermediate portion in opposite directions perpendicular to vertically adjacent peripheral points of said top and bottom portions respectively, said top portion having a threaded central aperture therein engageable with said threaded ceiling fixture, said intermediate portion serving as a support for said switch and having a threaded aperture therethrough in. which said threaded stud engages, said stud extending through and beyond said aperture, said stud having a clampin; nut threaded thereon for securing saidswitch to said intermediate portion, said bottom portion having a central threaded aperture therein, said last mentioned aperture being adapted for the reception of a bell nut comprising an enlarged head, a threaded shank, and a central bore extending through said head and shank, said pull chain extending through said bore, said shank extending through the aperture in said casing whereby said head clamps said casing against said bottom portion.

JOSEPH A. WASSELLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,825,920 Popp Oct. 6, 1931 1,856,142 Surface et al May 3, 1932 2,202,680 Zagel May 28, 1940 

